Hizbul militants on the run in south Kashmir
Express News Services, The Indian Express
February 4, 2008

Introduction: Army Operations: A year ago, Kulgam was highly infested with militants. But, it's free from local militants now

With the killing of five Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) militants, including its two top com.ll1anders, followed by thy the arrest of another comman­der in south Kashmir, police and the Army on Saturday claimed that the militants are on the run after these successive operations.

In the last six days, a district commander and a battalion commander of Hizbul Mujahideen were among the five Militants killed in two separate encounters in Kulgam district. Police also arrested a top 'com­mander of the militants' group from the neighbouring Pul­wama district on Thursday.

Just a year ago, most areas of Kulgam were considered highly infested with local and foreign militants. But, police now claim that the area is free frdm local rrlilitants.

"We have cleared the area of local militants," Inspector General of Police (I G P), Kashmir, S M Sahai told me­dia persons.

Sahai c1aimcd that the dis­trict commander of Hizbul Mujahidecn, whom he identified as Sajjad Ahmdd Bhat alias Tahir Mehmod, was responsible for the killing of six brick kiln labourers in June 2006 in Kulgam. The Hizb, however, had denied that the outfit were responsible for the killing of labourers in south Kashmir.

The recent success against the militants is seen as a set back to the Hizbul Mu­jahideen by the security offi­cials. Police said several militants, including foreigners, were either killed or arrested in south Kashmir's Shopian, Traal, Pulwama and Kulgam­ considered a den of militant.

"It's true that the militants here are on the run," said a se­nior police official in south Kashmir. "Compared to the past, police" now has a good network in south Kashmir and the recent operations are testi­mony to our success," he said.

"If things will work like this the militancy will be wiped out from south Kashmir."

The Army officials insisted that a better coordination between different security agen­cies have resulted in these successes. "The successes against the militants are the outcome better coordination between different agencies, " Defence spokesman A K Mathur said. "The coordination will continue till militancy is eliminated from all the parts of the Valley."